Page 80 - Print21 Magazine May-June 2022

People in Print
the OVERflow
Easy Signs sets up US manufacturing operation
Sydney-based signage business Easy Signs is opening a manufacturing
operation in the US, off
the back of three years of successfully exporting to North America, factoring in an investment of $2.8m for the business.
The new plant is located in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. It has 6,700sqm floorspace, and will eventually have some 130 staff, almost double the number at Easy Signs’ Sydney facility.
The company anticipates
a soft product launch in May and a full launch by July. Manufacturing technology will mirror the company’s Smeaton Grange centre. Operations manager Steph Talty is relocating to the US to manage the business start-up.
“We have spent 16 years building Easy Signs into
a customer-centric, ultra- efficient manufacturing company,” said Andy Fryer, co-Founder of Easy Signs. “With a focus on technology and continual innovation, we knew it would one day be ready to launch into a much larger market such as the US. That
US Easy Signs business: Andy Fryer (left) and Adam Parnell
moved into their new factory, trebling floorspace to 8700sqm.
Fryer said, “Covid initially had a big impact on the business when it hit two years ago, but we have recovered since, and in fact in November we had a record month. It fell back a bit with Omicron in December and January, but
is now recovering again and reaching those record levels. We anticipate the US business will be well received, given it will have the same ethos as the Australian business.”
Easy Signs produces a mix of signage including soft signage, tear drops, fabric media walls, and the traditional range of corrugated, core flute, vinyl, decals, board, with a host of products, allied with instant online pricing and 24 hour turnaround.
The US factory is around 80 per cent the size of Smeaton Grange. Fryer told Print21
the journey to establish a factory in the US was, “a lot of work, but we did receive good assistance over there”, which included a $1m loan through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Board. 21
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day has now arrived and we are thrilled to be establishing in the Lehigh Valley.”
Fryer told Print21 that
the site was chosen for its proximity to multiple large population centres, with New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Baltimore / Washington DC, and much of the rest of the densely populated east coast, all within delivery distance. Fryer said, “Rapid turnaround is part of our core proposition, the chosen site gives us that.”
Easy Signs has been exporting soft signage to the US for the past three years, marketing though its
FabricSignGuys.com website. Fryer said, “That has given
us a real platform into the
US market, now we feel the time is right to establish Easy Signs manufacturing. The opportunities are large, because the population is so big, Easy Signs has carved out a great business in Australia thanks to our customer-centric focus, we aim to do the same over there.”
Fryer and his business partner Adam Parnell took over Easy Signs sixteen years ago when it was a one-man band, they were in the next door unit. They have grown the business ever since, and two years ago
Ex-Pizza Hut boss Glenn Jarrett new CEO at Snap
The country’s biggest print franchise group, Snap, has selected former Pizza Hut head Glenn Jarrett to succeed outgoing CEO, Richard Thame.
Jarrett joined Snap Franchising Limited in May, at the conclusion of his leadership in re-positioning Pizza Hut as the fastest growing quick service restaurant in Australia.
Snap has 135 stores, mainly in Australia, but also in New Zealand, China and Ireland. Pizza Hut has double that number of outlets in Australia.
With extensive experience working in leadership roles across a range of successful franchise operations, including Pizza Hut and Midas, Jarrett said that the opportunity of leading a business that has
80 Print21 MAY/JUNE 2022
Opportunity to build: Glenn Jarrett, new CEO at Snap
been successfully operating for a century, which still has founding family members involved and committed to Snap as shareholders, is what drew him to the role.
“I couldn’t be more excited to lead Snap at this critical moment, and to have the opportunity to build on the
proud history of the business and the efforts and impact
of Richard Thame and the entire organisation. I have long admired the Snap brand and share the passion of the board in recognising the need to continue and enhance the transition path that’s been embarked on,” he said.
Snap Franchising chair Anne Cashman has described Jarrett as having a long
and distinguished career
in franchise leadership, encompassing a wide spectrum of industry sectors, saying Jarrett’s “integrity, knowledge, thoughtfulness and work experiences” are critical in helping Snap Franchising
to fulfill its substantial commitments to franchise
partners, employees, and shareholders.
“Glenn is a highly
respected professional, and
a recognised leader in the franchising industry. He possesses all the qualities
one would want in a CEO – a comprehensive knowledge
of the sector, significant hands-on experience, a deep understanding of our company and its strategies and an in- depth regulatory background.
“Everyone at Snap, from the 30 plus franchise partners, management and staff, recognises the leadership, skills and experience that Glenn brings to the business will be critical, as we enter a post Covid-19 world,” Cashman said. 21